Publication Ethics

Agriculture and Food Sciences Research (AFSR) (e-ISSN: 2411-6653 | p-ISSN: 2518-0193) places the highest value on integrity, transparency, and academic quality. These principles are fundamental to the work of our editorial staff, authors, reviewers, and editors. This document outlines the ethical standards and procedures we follow to uphold these principles in every stage of the publication process.

We adhere to the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly those published in 2011 and 2018, to ensure the highest standards in scholarly publishing. These guidelines support our editors and publishers in making ethically sound decisions. Additionally, we follow standards set by leading industry associations, including the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

Research Integrity

All publication activities at AFSR are conducted with a commitment to academic excellence, transparency, honesty, and respect for research subjects. Editorial teams are responsible for providing clear policies and guidelines that support research integrity, which are tailored to the subject matter or discipline of each manuscript.

Any concerns that a publication may not have been conducted ethically should be reported to the relevant editor or emailed to publishingethics@asianonlinejournals.com. These concerns will be addressed in accordance with COPE’s best practices and may be escalated to the AFSR Publishing Ethics Committee when appropriate.

Editorial Process

Editorial decisions are made solely by editors, who are responsible for accepting or rejecting manuscripts based on their relevance to the journal’s scope and the scholarly quality of the work. This includes the rigor of the methodology, the validity of the findings, and the strength of the conclusions.

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and uphold privacy for authors, reviewers, and editorial staff. Editors are required to recuse themselves from decisions if they have any conflict of interest regarding a submission.

AFSR uses a double-blind peer review process, which means that both the authors and reviewers remain anonymous. If an error is discovered in a published article, a correction or retraction will be issued promptly.

Peer Review

Peer review is a cornerstone of academic publishing, and reviewers are expected to act with professionalism and integrity. Reviewers must base their evaluations on evidence and avoid bias.

If a reviewer feels unqualified to assess a manuscript or cannot complete a review within the required timeframe, they must notify the editor and withdraw from the process. Reviewers must declare any conflicts of interest and maintain strict confidentiality about the content they review. Additionally, they should identify any relevant literature not cited in the manuscript.

Authorship and Contributorship

AFSR recognizes that authorship conventions vary across disciplines. However, authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research, including conceptualization, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation.

All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and accept responsibility for the content. The corresponding author is responsible for managing manuscript development, communication with the journal during submission and publication, and for obtaining approval from co-authors. This includes managing the submission of supplementary materials and ensuring all co-authors are informed throughout the process.

Contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged appropriately. We also support the use of ORCID iDs and initiatives like the CRediT taxonomy to improve transparency in authorship and contributorship.

AFSR supports editors in resolving authorship disputes and may consult with COPE when necessary.

Plagiarism

All submissions are screened for plagiarism using CrossCheck powered by iThenticate. Plagiarism—defined as the use of another person’s words, data, or ideas without proper attribution—is not tolerated.

Plagiarism may involve any media or content, including text, images, computer code, or unpublished materials such as presentations or lectures. Submissions that include plagiarized content will be rejected. Published articles found to contain plagiarism will be retracted.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication occurs when an author republishes the same or substantially similar work without proper acknowledgment or justification. AFSR does not support duplicate submissions unless they meet specific editorial criteria that enhance academic discourse. In such cases, permission from the original publisher must be obtained and proper citations included.

Submissions under consideration by AFSR must not be submitted elsewhere concurrently. Concerns regarding duplication or plagiarism may be reported to the relevant editor or emailed to publishingethics@asianonlinejournals.com.

For more information, refer to: https://publicationethics.org/category/keywords/redundant-publication.

Conflicts of Interest and Funding

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, professional, or personal, that could influence the integrity of their work. If an undisclosed conflict is suspected, it should be reported to the journal at the above email address.

Libel, Defamation, and Freedom of Expression

AFSR supports academic freedom and the right to express opinions. However, we do not permit the publication of false or defamatory statements. Any allegations of libel will be handled with the support of our legal team. Contributors are welcome to request legal review prior to publication when needed.

Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

Retractions, corrections, and expressions of concern will be handled in accordance with COPE’s Retraction Guidelines (2019). If an error is made by an author, a corrigendum will be issued. If the journal is responsible for the error, an erratum will be published. Retractions are reserved for serious ethical violations or critical flaws in the published work.

Minor updates such as typesetting or grammatical corrections may be made prior to final publication.

Image Manipulation, Falsification, and Fabrication

Authors must not manipulate research images in a way that misrepresents the data. Although certain adjustments may be appropriate for clarity, image alterations that mislead readers are strictly prohibited. Proven falsification or fabrication of research findings will lead to retraction.

Fraudulent Research and Research Misconduct

If misconduct is identified in a published or submitted work, AFSR will collaborate with the authors, editors, COPE, and other relevant organizations to investigate. Verified misconduct will result in correction or retraction.

Transparency

AFSR supports COPE’s Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing. We encourage openness in research practices and accountability in reporting.

Data and Supporting Evidence

Authors are expected to retain and share data, code, and other materials necessary for readers to understand and replicate their findings. Where possible, authors should deposit data in public repositories and provide a Data Availability Statement within the article.

Integrity of the Scholarly Record

We maintain permanent records of all published works along with relevant metadata. In the event of a retraction or correction, appropriate updates are made while ensuring the preservation of the academic record.

Marketing Communication

Our social media and promotional activities must reflect the values and standards of AFSR. Team members must follow all internal guidelines and relevant advertising regulations when promoting publications.

Advertising

AFSR allows third-party advertising on its digital and print platforms. All advertising must be clearly separated from editorial content and will not influence editorial decisions. We reserve the right to reject or remove advertising that violates our ethics policy.

Public Relations and Media Engagement

Editors and contributors engaged in media or public communication are advised to follow the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Code of Conduct. AFSR will support contributors during press coverage and publicity efforts.

Metrics, Usage, and Reporting

AFSR complies with industry standards such as the COUNTER Code of Practice for content usage reporting. We collaborate with organizations such as Crossref to provide transparent metrics. Usage data known to be fraudulent or artificial may be excluded from reports.

AFSR is also a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and supports responsible use of research metrics.

References

  • Committee on Publication Ethics. (2011). Code of Conduct and Best-Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

  • Committee on Publication Ethics. (2018). Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors.

  • COPE. (2019). Retraction Guidelines. https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4